Motorola is about to face its biggest problem in 2026 — and I'm not sure it's ready

It's been a challenging year for smartphone manufacturers so far. Rising prices are finally having an effect, forcing companies to make tough decisions.

We've seen Samsung and Google impacted so far, but Motorola hasn't had to step up to the plate in 2026 yet.

That's about to change, as Motorola will most likely be announcing new midrange devices and a refreshed Razr lineup sometime in the next few months.

Motorola is in an awkward spot, and it'll have a harder time navigating higher prices.

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Motorola doesn't need to beat Samsung — it just needs to remember this

Motorola can't lose sight of value

Posts 9
By  Stephen Radochia

Samsung and Google had different choices to make

Keeping at a certain price or providing meaningful upgrades

With the release of the Samsung Galaxy S26 series and Google Pixel 10a, Samsung and Google have both had a turn dealing with rising component prices.

Google prioritized the Pixel 10a's price point, and I agree. It's a device that had to maintain a $500 price point, as long as the sacrifices didn't cut too deeply.

They didn't, and the Pixel 10a is a solid phone, despite not featuring massive year-over-year upgrades.

Samsung and Google have other things to fall back on.

Samsung took the other path with the Galaxy S26. The company's entry-level flagship received a few upgrades, including a new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset and a larger battery, but its price rose to $900.

It makes the phone feel more like a conversation than it should, but that's the dilemma companies are facing this year.

Unfortunately, Motorola's decision is more complicated because it can't compromise on what makes its devices successful.

Motorola can't play too much with price

Stuck between a rock and a hard place

Motorola's entire appeal outside the Razr Ultra is that the phones are excellent value.

Devices like the Moto G Stylus and Moto Edge are phenomenal midrange devices, and if I didn't love the Razr Ultra so much, it would be the regular Razr that winds up in my pocket most often.

However, they are price-sensitive phones. If Moto starts charging more, I don't see the company's devices as attractive or competitive.

Samsung and Google have other things to fall back on. Samsung's software is top-notch, and it promises seven years of it on new phones. The same can be said for Google, which also sees quarterly feature drops.

Motorola doesn't have any of that going for it. Yes, I enjoy what Moto did with Android 16 on my Razr Ultra, but it arrived months after the competition, and it's running a December 2025 patch.

You can't exactly set your watch to the company's software updates, and it's not a standout feature of the phones.

Moto's software is clean enough, but if the devices get more expensive, there are other attractive options out there. Why would I recommend a $600 to $650 Motorola Edge, when the Pixel 10a can be had for less and will most likely be more well-rounded?

There's less reason for me to get excited about a $500 Moto G Stylus, because it's just not that kind of phone.

There's a middle ground for Motorola, and the company has to find it.

The only reasonable alternative for Motorola

Go the route Google did

The only solution for Motorola is to do what Google did on the Pixel 10a. To remain competitive, prices must stay the same, and there are plenty of ways Moto can swap out chipsets to save money.

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MediaTek Dimensity chipsets have served Motorola well in the past, and the company has made wise choices sticking with the Snapdragon 6 series chipsets in phones like the Moto G Stylus.

There's only so much power we need in our smartphones, and if Moto can keep devices running smoothly while not giving us more than we need, it can keep prices lower.

Moto's done an excellent job gaining traction in the US, and I'd hate to see all that progress lost because of rising prices.

I have faith Motorola will get it right

I hope Motorola is self-aware enough to know what makes it popular with customers. It's not its software support or robust ecosystem; it's releasing high-quality devices with solid performance for less.

The company produces some of my favorite phones, so I want to see it navigate 2026 successfully.

Even though enthusiasts will balk at lackluster upgrades, people will keep buying Moto devices if the price is right.